Practical guides to personal licences, premises licensing and hospitality compliance in the UK.
Martyn’s Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) puts new counter-terrorism duties on venues holding 200+ people. Here’s who falls into the standard and enhanced tiers, what each tier must do, and how to get compliant before enforcement begins.
Getting a personal licence takes five steps: qualify with the APLH Level 2 award, get a basic DBS check, gather your documents, apply to your local council and receive your licence. This guide walks through each step with realistic costs and timescales.
A personal licence has four unavoidable costs: the APLH course and exam, a basic DBS check (£21.50), the council application fee (£37) and photos. Here’s the full breakdown, the optional extras, and how to keep the total down.
From starting the course to holding the licence, most people take 2–4 weeks. Here’s the stage-by-stage timeline — course, exam, DBS check, council processing — and the practical ways to compress it when you’re starting a job.
To get a personal licence you must be 18+, hold the APLH qualification, have the right to work in the UK, and pass a criminal record check. Here’s exactly how convictions are assessed — and why a record doesn’t automatically rule you out.
In England and Wales, personal licences stopped expiring in 2015 — no renewal needed, ever. In Scotland the licence lasts 10 years and you must pass refresher training every 5 years or lose it. Here are both sets of rules, and what you do still have to keep up to date.
Scotland has its own licensing regime: the SCPLH qualification, an application to your local Licensing Board, and a strict 5-year refresher deadline. Here’s the full process — and the deadline rule that catches out even experienced licence holders.
Every premises selling alcohol in England and Wales must name a Designated Premises Supervisor — a personal licence holder in day-to-day charge. Here’s what the role actually involves, who can do it, and how to change the DPS when a manager moves on.
You need both a licensed person and a licensed place to sell alcohol legally in England and Wales. This guide untangles the personal licence and the premises licence: what each covers, what each costs, and exactly which you need in common scenarios.
A premises licence application stands or falls on its operating schedule. Here’s the full process — plans, notices, the 28-day consultation, fees — plus how to tell whether a change to an existing licence needs a minor variation, a full variation, or nothing at all.